Worship Bass Pedalboards

[yaksonator]

To expand on that thought, the tonehammer definitely has a high cut going on to tame the mcirosynth when using ags. Using the hx stomp in combination with the tech 21 yyz I get the same affect (the drive placed after the microsynth sound controls the gnarly significantly compared to being before it).
Difference is I can turn off the yyz and still have my "core" tone just with no drive and no volume drop. Biggest complaint of the tonehammer, like others have said, is the ags doesn't have a separate volume control and I do like to turn off the drive.

That being said, that preset i uploaded and be experimented with. Get a super thick fuzz with a gate, and make the Sub octave "pure". REALLY good synth sound.. add some chorus and/or delay or reverb.. chefs kiss! The stomp is an amazing piece of kit.

 

[FenrirofOld]

To expand on that thought, the tonehammer definitely has a high cut going on to tame the mcirosynth when using ags. Using the hx stomp in combination with the tech 21 yyz I get the same affect (the drive placed after the microsynth sound controls the gnarly significantly compared to being before it).
Difference is I can turn off the yyz and still have my "core" tone just with no drive and no volume drop. Biggest complaint of the tonehammer, like others have said, is the ags doesn't have a separate volume control and I do like to turn off the drive.

That being said, that preset i uploaded and be experimented with. Get a super thick fuzz with a gate, and make the Sub octave "pure". REALLY good synth sound.. add some chorus and/or delay or reverb.. chefs kiss! The stomp is an amazing piece of kit.

Gah there is a Team Awesome Fuzz in the classifieds which is pretty legendary, I've been super tempted to grab it. But 2025 I'm really trying to hold fast for a CAPO and a Stomp before anything else...Lord give me strength

 

[BASS YODA]

Why do you want a separate volume control ?

This is the biggest misunderstanding with the Aguilar TONE HAMMER. The AGS function is not a drive channel but a tube-like tone which works in connexion / correlation / conjunction with the other settings to sculpt your sound, an Adaptive Gain Shaping. With the AGS always ON and gain lowered you get a tube amp vibe and almost a "cab sim" by shaping.

If you want a Preamp / D.I. with a drive channel, buy an MXR bass d.i.+ M80 (separate volume control, gain knob, blend and adjustable noise gate) OR a Jad Freer Audio CAPO : 4 different preamps in a single box / D.I. / saturator / FX Loop from clean sounds to heavy saturations passing through endless overdrive flavors with amp-like dynamics and harmonic content. A side is a clean high impedance preamp with fixed gain and lots of headroom + 2 high dynamic range saturators can then be mixed to the clean preamp with the blend control and B side is a PRE (gain boost) / POST (volume boost) tube-like tone preamp, very cool!

If you already own an Aguilar TONE HAMMER Preamp / D.I., buy an Overdrive / Distortion / Fuzz pedal!

Et voilà!

May the Groove be with you.

 

[projectapollo]

If you already own an Aguilar TONE HAMMER Preamp / D.I., buy an Overdrive / Distortion / Fuzz pedal!

Et voilà! May the Groove be with you.

I enjoy a fuzz device paired with the TH/AGS.

 

[yaksonator]

Why do you want a separate volume control ?

This is the biggest misunderstanding with the Aguilar TONE HAMMER. The AGS function is not a drive channel but a tube-like tone which works in correlation with the other settings to sculpt your sound, an Adaptive Gain Shaping. With the AGS always ON and gain lowered you get a tube amp vibe and almost a "cab sim" by shaping.

If you want a Preamp / D.I. with a drive channel, buy an MXR bass d.i.+ M80 (separate volume control, gain knob, blend and adjustable noise gate) OR a Jad Freer Audio CAPO : 4 different preamps in a single box / D.I. / saturator / FX Loop from clean sounds to heavy saturations passing through endless overdrive flavors with amp-like dynamics and harmonic content. A side is a clean high impedance preamp with fixed gain and lots of headroom + 2 high dynamic range saturators can then be mixed to the clean preamp with the blend control and B side is a PRE (gain boost) / POST (volume boost) tube-like tone preamp, very cool!

If you already own an Aguilar TONE HAMMER Preamp / D.I., buy an Overdrive / Distortion / Fuzz pedal!

Et voilà!

May the Groove be with you.

Because I just do. I'm not sure why they wouldn't have updated it without a separate volume control. While I love the pedal. I think it's a silly design. To each there own.

 

[BASS YODA]

Because I just do. I'm not sure why they wouldn't have updated it without a separate volume control. While I love the pedal. I think it's a silly design. To each there own.

I just explained... The AGS function is NOT a drive channel but a tube-like tone!

This is not a silly design. The people at Aguilar are not idiots. They would have written DRIVE or DISTORTION and not AGS (Adaptive Gain Shaping) on it.

All products in the TONE HAMMER series are a modern homage to old tube amps.

May the Groove be with you.

 

[yaksonator]

I just explained... The AGS function is NOT a drive channel but a tube-like tone !

This is not a silly design. Aguilar are not idiots. They would have written DRIVE or DISTORTION and not AGS (Adaptive Gain Shaping).

May the Groove be with you.

I think it is a silly design. Can't get in an argument with you man. Like I said to each their own.

 

[wolffire99]

I just explained... The AGS function is NOT a drive channel but a tube-like tone!

This is not a silly design. Aguilar are not idiots. They would have written DRIVE or DISTORTION and not AGS (Adaptive Gain Shaping).

All products in the TONE HAMMER series are a modern homage to old tube amps.

May the Groove be with you.

I think it would be possible to add a post gain level control that’s engaged with AGS and bypassed when AGS is off. The level control we want doesn’t need to affect AGS circuit.

 

[projectapollo]

I just explained... The AGS function is NOT a drive channel but a tube-like tone!

This is not a silly design. The people at Aguilar are not idiots. They would have written DRIVE or DISTORTION and not AGS (Adaptive Gain Shaping) on it.

All products in the TONE HAMMER series are a modern homage to old tube amps.

May the Groove be with you.

I think it's the addition of the stomp switch that creates the AGS confusion. If they had used a toggle or mode button, the design would have been easier to grasp.

 

[TaylorJ]

I think it would be possible to add a post gain level control that’s engaged with AGS and bypassed when AGS is off. The level control we want doesn’t need to affect AGS circuit.

Exactly this. Very perplexing that they didn't do this as I believe it's the number one complaint about the TH?

 

[SteveC]

So don’t buy/use a Tone Hammer. As suggested, there are plenty of other options. It’s been this way forever.

 

[TaylorJ]

So don’t buy/use a Tone Hammer. As suggested, there are plenty of other options. It’s been this way forever.

Agreed, and I don't use a TH. I feel like that is the only complaint I ever hear about the TH. And I'm sure they had their reasons for keeping it that way. I assume they use it, and don't feel like it needed anything different? But it does make you wonder why they felt the TH needed to be updated? I don't think I've seen anyone excited about the update? Actually I think I've seen bass players looking for a V1 even after the update. I guess for some the XLR out is better on the top of the unit?

 

[BASS YODA]

I think it would be possible to add a post gain level control that’s engaged with AGS and bypassed when AGS is off. The level control we want doesn’t need to affect AGS circuit.

I think it would be possible to add a post gain level control that’s engaged with AGS and bypassed when AGS is off or add a real Drive/Distortion channel with a blend control to preserve, retain and maintain the AGS function, an FX Loop with footswitch, add a Personal Monitor Amp, an Headphone/IEM Stereo Out and an XLR Aux In...

Nevertheless, the aguilar TONE HAMMER / D.I. preamp remains one of the best tools for bass players, a sure value!

May the Groove be with you.

 

[projectapollo]

But it does make you wonder why they felt the TH needed to be updated? I don't think I've seen anyone excited about the update? Actually I think I've seen bass players looking for a V1 even after the update. I guess for some the XLR out is better on the top of the unit?

I use the V1. Bought a V2 to see if the gain bump was fixed. I found that it was not when the V2 drive is saturated to the same level as the AGS. I returned the V2. Aguilar has "updated" all their bass pedals and as far as I know they kept the functions and tone the same, just updated the enclosure. I think the TH V2 was part of the case update migration.

 

[BASS YODA]

I tried everything, I compared everything, I wasted a lot of time and I lost a lot of money... TECH 21 SansAmp products, MXR M80 bass d.i.+, ORIGIN EFFECTS products, JAD FREER AUDIO CAPO, CAVEMAN AUDIO BP1 COMPACT Bass Preamp, Jensen DIs, Rupert Neve Designs RNDI, JHS Color Box...

And I just bought an aguilar TONE HAMMER Preamp / D.I. V1 because it's what I prefer and I'm not convinced by V2!

TONE HAMMER Preamp / D.I. V1 is what I found best, it's ninja black, it's simple, XLR OUT on the top of the unit, it sounds, it reacts like a tube amp with the lovely AGS function and I don't need a cab sim... I'm very happy with it on Dagobahss!

May the Groove be with you.

 

[FenrirofOld]

I just hope my V1 doesn't die anytime soon, although plenty of units seem to make it many many years.

An extra testament to V1: Much to my chagrin I dropped it pulling old velcro off the back, the gain knob bounced off my stove and other than a small scuff you'd never know. Zero loosening on anything anywhere.

 

[projectapollo]

I tried everything, I compared everything, I wasted a lot of time and I lost a lot of money... TECH 21 SansAmp products, MXR M80 bass d.i.+, ORIGIN EFFECTS products, JAD FREER AUDIO CAPO, CAVEMAN AUDIO BP1 COMPACT Bass Preamp, Jensen DIs, Rupert Neve Designs RNDI, JHS Color Box...

And I just bought an aguilar TONE HAMMER Preamp / D.I. V1 because it's what I prefer and I'm not convinced by V2!

TONE HAMMER Preamp / D.I. V1 is what I found best, it's ninja black, it's simple, XLR OUT on the top of the unit, it sounds, it reacts like a tube amp with the lovely AGS function and I don't need a cab sim... I'm very happy with it on Dagobahss!

May the Groove be with you.

I can relate to this...... that was my 2024.

 

[Rocksolid]

It is a silly design in my opinion. I love my THDI but this shouldn't be on a foot switch if it isn't meant to be turned on and off at will. This switch has caught me out more than once, so I had to put a cover over it to save getting the bazillion dB boost when hitting it accidentally when going for my Chorus pedal.

The Jad Freer Capo has attenuation for it's secondary drive channel, as does the Laney Digbeth. It could've been done I am sure, because the crew at Aguilar aren't idiots apparently as has been said, but this was an opportunity missed.

My bottle top cover. top of a soda bottle stuck on - I unscrew it to access the AGS.

 

[BASS YODA]

It is a silly design in my opinion. I love my THDI but this shouldn't be on a foot switch if it isn't meant to be turned on and off at will. This switch has caught me out more than once, so I had to put a cover over it to save getting the bazillion dB boost when hitting it accidentally when going for my Chorus pedal.

The Jad Freer Capo has attenuation for it's secondary drive channel, as does the Laney Digbeth. It could've been done I am sure, because the crew at Aguilar aren't idiots apparently as has been said, but this was an opportunity missed.

My bottle top cover. top of a soda bottle stuck on - I unscrew it to access the AGS.

With so many pedals so close together under your feet, you could engage or disengage anything...

The AGS function is NOT a drive channel but a tube-like tone!

On most bass amps, we make our sound and play with it. The bass amps with multiple channels are rare. There, it's the same. You have to choose between a clean sound or a tube-like tone like on an amp. OK, they should have put a button instead of the footswitch but it's a 20 or 25 years old design. This is not a silly design, just silly users and me first. The people at Aguilar are not idiots. They would have written DRIVE or DISTORTION and not AGS (Adaptive Gain Shaping) on it.

May the Groove be with you.

 

[Rocksolid]

With so many pedals so close together under your feet, you could engage or disengage anything...

The AGS function is NOT a drive channel but a tube-like tone!

On most bass amps, we make our sound and play with it. The bass amps with multiple channels are rare. There, it's the same. You have to choose between a clean sound or a tube-like tone like on an amp. OK, they should have put a button instead of the footswitch but it's a 20 or 25 years old design. This is not a silly design, just silly users and me first. The people at Aguilar are not idiots. They would have written DRIVE or DISTORTION and not AGS (Adaptive Gain Shaping) on it.

May the Groove be with you.

It's great that you are so passionate about this product and you are so resolute in your opinions about it. We'll have to agree to disagree. I do think you are in the minority when it comes to your opinion on the THDI. The last page or so of comments on this thread are testament to that.

All drives/overdrives/distortions by default are adapted/adaptive gain. that's how that saturate the tone. increased gain = equals saturation.